Hoisting device.



A. H. NBLLER. noxsme nnvmn.

. 7 APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1908. 906 ,91 3 Patented Dec. 15, 1908. I2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR 'aflgfii r 0% ATTORNEY YIIE mam": III-ll: co.,\usumarotl. n. c.

A. H, NELLER. HOISTING DEVIGE.

APPLICATION TILED APR. 2 0, 1908.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

WITNE88E8. INVENTOB BY v ATTORNEY "on!" rlrnu cm, IIAInmarcN, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT H. NELLER, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO LOUDEN MACHINERYCOMPANY,

OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

Application filed April 20, 1908. Serial No. 428,254.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. NELLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fairfield, in the county of Jefferson and State of Iowa,have invented a new-and useful Improvement in Hoisting Devices, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of hoisting devices in which a chainis used to raise and lower the load and it consists of means to take upand let out the free end of the chain, as required to keep it out of theway, and in other features as set forth in the specification andspecifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a per spective representing an elevated carrier embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is the same representing an enlarged view of thehoisting device. Fig. 3 is a view of the sprocket over which the chainpasses, the front side being removed. Fig. i is a section of the take upcylinder which will be explained hereafter. Fig. 5, is a verticalsection on the line 55 of Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged detailviews.

Referring to the drawings, A represents an elevated track upon whichtrucks B and B are adapted to run. To the lower ends of these trucks areconnected frames C and C carrying sprocket wheels D and D over whichhoisting chains E and E are passed, and to the lower ends of the chainsa receptacle F is suspended. The frames 0 and C are connected togetherby means of a fixed shaft G upon which a cylinder H is rotatablymounted. Below the fixed connecting shaft G is a shaft I mounted in theframes C and C so it will rotate and carry on one end a chain wheel J,over which a chain K is passed. The sprocket wheels D and D are providedwith a series of inwardly pointing pins L which are adapted to co-actwith screws M and M on the adjacent ends of the shaft I. When the chainwheel J is rotated the sprocket wheels D and D will also be rotated andthe chains E and IE will be drawn in one direction or the other, as maybe necessary to raise and lower the receptacle.

The main object of the invention is to take up the free end of thehoisting chain so that a long chain may be used to make a high lift andnot get in the way. To accomplish this result, the end of the chain isconnected to the cylinder H which is fitted with a bevel gear N. Acasting O carrying a gear P adapted to mesh with the ear N is secured tothe shaft G. It is pre erable to have the attaching end of the casting Oforked so it will embrace the shaft G and .be clamped thereon by a bolt.I

On the shaft adjacent to the screw M is a supplemental screw O, which isadapted to operate the gear P. This in turn being attached to thecylinder will cause it to rotate, and this will wind up or unwind thechain secured thereto. The gearing operating the cylinder is adjusted soit Will wind or un-- wind the chain with the same speed at which it ispassed over the sprocket wheel D. In this way the free end of the chain,being connected. to the cylinder, will be taken up or let out as may beneeded, and will, at all times, be kept from getting in the way.

To cause the chain to wind and unwind evenly upon the cylinder and toprevent it from climbing upon itself or otherwise getting out of order,I use guides R and R which preferably encircle the cylinder, and areadapted to slide back and forth thereon as the chain is wound orunwound. An enlarged view of this guide is shown in Fig. 7. It is fittedwith forked ends a which are preferably broadened so as to sit steadilyupon the shaft I, and to slide evenly back and forth thereon. On theside of each guide where the chain winds is an enlarged or extendedportion 1) b respectively adapted to admit the chain between it and thecylinder. The lower portion of this part is widened and made convex onthe side over which the chain passes.

As the'chain is wound upon the cylinder the guides R and R are pushedalong by the chain behind them. and the chains are prevented fromclimbing upon themselves by having to pass under the portion 5. As thechains are unwound, their pressure against the lower ends of theportions 7) and b will make the guides follow the chains back and theseparts being widened and made convex, the chains will slip easily overthem, and whatever extra wear may be caused by the friction will be dulyprovided for. By this simple, inexpensive means the chains will alwaysbe evenly wound and unwound upon the cylinder and be kept from gettinginthe way without any attention on the part of the operator.

The chain E is preferably connected to the cylinder by means of a linkor bracket S secured to the body of the bevel gear N, as shown in Fig.4:, which in turn is secured tothe cylinder by means of bolts or rivetse passing through the ends of the cylinder and through a flange on therear side of the gear. At the opposite end of the cylinder a circularflange T is secured in a similar manner to which the chain E may beattached. A set collar U is placed on the shaft G at this end of thecylinder to hold it in proper position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a chain guard, the office of which is tohold the chain in proper position on the sprocket wheels D and D and toprevent the free ends of the chains from being drawn too far up whenthey are unwound from the cylinder. It comprises two arms V which areadapted to straddle the sprocket wheels and which are joined to a saddleshape part WV terminating in a slightly bifurcated horn X. Eyes oropenings (Z are formed in the ends of the arms and are adapted toencircle the hubs of the sprocket wheels and to swing loosely thereon.

The chains fit under the saddle and are adapted to slide in the roundedgroove formed thereby. \Vhen the free ends of the chains are slack theguard will hang down as shown in Fig. 2, but when drawn tight the saddleportion will be lifted by the chain until the horn X will come incontact with the under side of the shaft I, which will prevent the chainfrom being drawn any higher and thus always securing a sufficientengagement with the sprocket wheel.

When it is desired to use my invention with a device which has noconnecting shaft, such as shown in Fig. 1, upon which the cylinder H canbe mounted, it will be necessary to provide a shaft, or at least, somesort of pivot upon which the cylinder may revolve. In Fig. 1 is shown acarrier having two hoisting chains E and E but two hoisting chains arenot always essential to the working of my invention. One chain issometimes suflicient, as shown in Fig. 2, but in such cases suitablemeans must be used to properly support the outstanding end of the shaftGr upon which the cylinder H is mounted.

My invention may be applied to a stationary hoist as well as a travelinghoist, all that is necessary being the necessary connection between thesprocket wheel and the cylinder so that the free end of the chain may betaken up and let out as the chain is passed over the sprocket wheel.

What I claim is 1. In hoisting devices, a sprocket wheel, a chain havinga free end passed over the wheel, and means to automatically take up andlet out the free end of the chain as it passes back and forth over thewheel.

2. In hoisting devices, a sprocket wheel, a chain having a free endpassed over the wheel, and a rotatable cylinder to automatically take upand let out the free end of the chain as it passes back and forth overthe wheel.

3. In hoisting devices, a sprocket wheel, a

chain having a free end passed over thewheel, a shaft and a cylinder torotate on the shaft and take up and let out the free end of the chain asit passes back and forth over the wheel.

at. In hoisting devices, a sprocket wheel, a chain having a free endpassed over the wheel, a shaft, a cylinder rotatable on the shaft and towhich the free end of the chain is connected, and means to rotate thewheel and the cylinder in unison, so that the free end of the chain willbe taken up and let out as it is passed back and forth over the wheel.

5. In hoisting devices, a sprocket wheel, a chain having a free endpassed over the Wheel, a shaft and a cylinder to rotate on the shaft anda guide adapted to move back and forth along the cylinder and keep thechain in even coils around the cylinder.

6. In a device of the character described, a sprocket wheel, a chainpassed over the Wheel, a fixed shaft, :1 cylinder to rotate on the shaftand a rotatable shaft adapted to rotate the wheel and the cylinder inunison, so that the chain may be automatically passed from the one tothe other.

7. In a device of the character described, a sprocket Wheel, a chainpassed over the wheel, a fixed shaft, a cylinder to rotate on the shaftand a rotatable shaft carrying a screw adapted to rotate the wheel andthe cylinder in unison, so that the chain may be automatically passedfrom the one to the other.

8. In a device of the character described, a sprocketwheel, a chainpassed over the wheel, a fixed shaft, a cylinder carrying a gearrotatable on the shaft and a rotatable shaft carrying a screw to rotatethe sprocket wheel and also the gear of the cylinder, so that the chainmay be automatically transferred from the wheel to the cylinder and viceversa.

9. In a device of the character described, a sprocket wheel, a chainpassed over the wheel, a fixed shaft, a cylinder having at one end abevel gear, a casting secured to the shaft adjacent to the beveled gearand carrying a gear adapted to coact therewith, and a rotatable shafthaving a screw adapted to rotate the sprocket wheel and also the gear onthe casting whereby the sprocket wheel and the cylinder will be made torotate in unison.

10. In a device of the character described, a sprocket wheel, a chainhaving a free end passed over the sprocket wheel, means to automaticallytake up and let out the free end of the chain, and a guard pivoted so asto hold the chain in engagement with the sprocket wheel.

11. In a device of the character described, a sprocket wheel, a chainhaving a free end passed over the sprocket wheel, means to automaticallytake up and let out the free end of the chain, and a guard having armspivoted to the hub of the sprocket wheel and a saddle to fit over andhold the chain in engagement with the sprocket wheel.

12. In a device of the character described, a sprocket wheel, a chainhaving a free end passed over the sprocket wheel, a rotatable cylinderto automatically take up and let out the free end of the chain, arotatable shaft to operate the sprocket wheel and the cylinder, and aguard having arms pivoted to the hub of the sprocket wheel, a saddle tofit over the chain and a horn to come in contact with the rotatableshaft and to hold the chain in contact with the sprocket wheel.

13. In a device of the character described, a sprocket wheel, acylinder, means to rotate the sprocket wheel and cylinder in unison, achain passed over the sprocket wheel and connected to the cylinder and aguide adapted to encircle the cylinder and guide the chain in coilsaround the cylinder.

14. In a device of the character described, a sprocket wheel, acylinder, means to rotate the sprocket wheel and cylinder in unison, a

chain passed over the sprocket wheel and,

connected to the cylinder and a guide adapted to encircle the cylinderand having an extended portion to take in the chain and guide it incoils around the cylinder.

15. In a device of the character described,

' a sprocket wheel and cylinder, means to rotate the sprocket wheel andcylinder in unison, a shaft parallel with the cylinder, a chain passedover the sprocket wheel and connected to the cylinder, and a guide forthe chain adapted to slide back and forth on the cylinder and having aforked end to straddle the shaft and be supported thereby.

16. In a device of the character described, a pair of trucks adapted torun on an overhead track, a sprocket wheel carried by each of thetrucks, a shaft oining the two sets of parts together, a rotatablecylinder mounted on the shaft, a chain passed over each of the sprocketwheels, and each having one of its ends connected to the adjacent end ofthe cylinder and means to rotate the cylinder and the sprocket wheels sothat the chains in passing back and forth over the sprocket wheels willbe wound and unwound upon the cylinder.

17. In a device of the character described, a pair of trucks adapted torun 011 an overhead track, a sprocket wheel carried by each of thetrucks, a fixed shaft joining the two sets of parts together, arotatable cylinder mounted on the shaft, a chain passed over each of thesprocket wheels and each having one of its ends connected to theadjacent ends of the cylinder, and a rotatable shaft carrying screwsadapted to operate the cylinder and the sprocket wheels so that thechains in passing back and forth over the sprocket wheels will be woundand unwound upon the cylinder.

18. In a device of the character described, a pair of trucks adapted torun on an overhead track, a sprocket wheel carried by each of thetrucks, a shaft joining the two sets of parts together, a rotatablecylinder mounted on the shaft, a chain passed over each of the sprocketwheels, and each having one of its ends connected to the adjacent endsof the cylinder, means to rotate the cylinder and the sprocket wheels sothat the chains in passing back and forth over the sprocket wheels willbe wound and unwound upon the cylinder, and a pair of guides to causethe chains to wind and unwind evenly upon the cylinder.

19. In a device of the character described, a pair of trucks adapted torun on an overhead track, a sprocket wheel carried by each of thetrucks, a shaft joining the two sets of parts together, a rotatablecylinder having a bevel gear at one end mounted on the shaft, aco-acting gear secured to the shaft adjacent to the bevel gear, a setcollar on the shaft at the opposite end of the cylinder, a chain passedover each of the sprocket wheels and each having one of its endsconnected to the adjacent end of the cylinder, and means to rotate thesprocket wheels and also the co-acting gear so that the chains will bewound and unwound upon the cylinder in passing back and forth over thesprocket wheels.

20. In a device of the character described, a pair of trucks, adapted torun on an overhead track, a frame connected to each truck, a sprocketwheel mounted in each frame, a shaft connecting the two sets of partstogether, a rotatable cylinder mounted on the shaft, a chain passed overeach of the sprocket wheels and each chain having one of its endsconnected to the adjacent end of the cylinder, means to rotate thecylinder and the sprocket wheels so that the chains in passing back andforth over the sprocket wheels will be wound and unwound upon thecylinder and guides adapted to slide back and forth upon the cylinderand cause the chains to wind and unwind evenly thereon.

ALBERT H. NELLER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. O. SHETLER, OSCAR LEEDHAM.

